Posted on 08/16/2004 7:46:00 PM PDT by TheBigB
Fifty years ago, it was 1954. (Research is the heart of journalism.)
Many important things happened in 1954. Dean Martin sang That's Amore, and the French surrendered in Vietnam (these two events were probably unrelated). On TV, the new hit was Lassie, a show about a really smart dog who belonged to a family with the IQ of mushrooms. (''What's Lassie trying to tell us?'' ''I don't know, although the last 29 consecutive times she acted like this, it was because Jeff fell into the well!'' ''Well, I'm baffled! What's wrong, girl?'')
But for lasting cultural significance, the most important event of 1954 was the release, in Japan, of the first Godzilla movie, which in America was called Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Although many people -- you, for example -- think Godzilla is a cheesy monster movie, it is in fact a somber metaphor for the Atomic Age, showing what happens when the human race, in its arrogance, tampers with nature and unwittingly unleashes the terrible power of a man in a rubber suit destroying tiny unrealistic props.
Don't get me wrong: I love Godzilla, in a manly heterosexual way. As a boy growing up in the 1950s I saw all the Japanese monster movies I could, including Mothra, Rodan, The Mysterians and Ben-Hur. But Godzilla, truly, was the king. He was Elvis. This is why, in honor of his 50th birthday, I recently decided to watch the original Godzilla movie again. And if you think that, after all these years, it has lost something, I have news for you: It's funnier than ever.
(Excerpt) Read more at miami.com ...
Pingzilla List ping! How'dya miss this one, LC? :^)
It was the little miniature singing twins that caused nightmares.. . . 
Godzilla BUMP!!!!
Crow: He's got a tree! He's got a tree! This isn't the Godzilla we know!
One vote here for Gammera, the flying turtle with retro rockets in his butt.
Gamera is a friend to all children! :^)
Hey!! He forgot Gamera!!! You all remember the turtle with jets for legs that flew, right? I always wondered since he flew in circles, why he never puked. Hmmmmmm.
I caught it a few days ago, B, but I never quite got around to posting it to the "G-Thread".
Although, Barry kind of slams the Big Guy in this piece.
"Hey, pull my finger."
True, but it's still kinda funny. ;) I think the Big G himself would laugh at this one. Then he'd roar and eat Dave. But still...
GO, GO, GODZILLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want on or off the "PINGZILLA" list, give me a FReepmail or a ping!
Barry's always good for some laughs, I agree. The Big G's got thick skin, anyways.
I had forgotten that. He was indeed nice to the kiddies. What is the official position on Mecha-Godzilla or The Smog Monster?
"Hey, I knew Godzilla. We came up through the rackets together. Booze, broads, numbers, Godzilla was a good fella and never stooled on nobody. Gamera was a girly-kaiju compared to Godzilla."
-Jet Jaguar
And I still watch it. :)
Looks like I came to the right guy for monster info. Appreciate the word.
(MST3K version of Gamera theme song....)
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